These days in the time of our modern era Great Depression hardships, it’s hard to find a way to relax and decompress from the anxiety we all face. The nation is clearly at turmoil over money, war, poverty, unemployment and the daily grind of those who do find themselves with a job. But clearly, we all must seek a way to cope without using detrimental extremes.

This morning I heard FedEx truck pull up in front of my condo and thought, oh, somebody in building must have gotten a package. Suddenly a bang was heard on my door and I realized, I got the package. Standing before me was a FedEx driver with a decent size box. After signing the necessary transaction documents I bid adieu to the delivery man.

The wonder of opening the unexpected box found me with two luscious bottles of wine from the Rosenthal Malibu Estates /Surfrider Wines. (They can be found online here http://www.rosenthalestatewines.com ) WOW! A beautiful bottle 2008 Sauvignon and 2008 Muscat. What a surprise!

This makes it about the 6th bottle of wine my loving sister has shipped me of various types within the past few months. What a sis! and in time for my birthday upcoming. What a way to unwind!

Depression? Recession? I don’t have a clue what everybody’s talking about! I’m sipping, smiling and humming’ to an old song a recollect. Below is the lyrics to folk singer Tom Paxton’s song “Bottle of Wine”. More on this folk icon at http://tompaxton.com .

Rambling around this dirty old town singing for nickels and dimes. Times getting’ rough. I can’t get enough to buy me a little bottle of wine. Well, little hotel, older than hell, cold as the dark in the mine. Light so dim, I had to grin, I got me a little bottle of wine.

Well, the preacher will preach and the teacher will teach. The miner will dig in the mine. I ride the rods, trusting in God, huggin’ my little bottle of wine. Well, pain in my head, bugs in my bed, pants so old that they shine. Out on the street, I tell the people I meet to buy me a little bottle of wine.

When I was a kid all I wanted to do was sketch on any piece of paper I could find. To this day I find myself making scribble art on post-its while working at the computer. I have been toying with a line of “Post-It” art pieces and sell them framed. That’s another project.

While a boy, my dear Mother, who battled as a single Mom all of our lives came home one day and proclaimed I was going to be a little leaguer. She had signed me up, procured a Red Sox uniform and I was dragged to the local park kickin’ and screamin’ to play ball. I was to do the things that men do… sports. Every week a confrontation would ensue as I demanded my “rights” to stay home a sketch. She insisted I quit “doodling” and join the guys at the game.

We sucked, I sucked, we were the worst team on the league and I had zero desire to win or be there anyway. To make matters worst, my estranged Dad would come sit up in the bleachers with his little ice chest full of beers and drink. Talk about embarrassed, wasn’t the humiliation of being a lousy ball player enough for one kid with out drunken Dad hangin’ around. Wow! I do give him some credit for having been there at all to support me in his way. I guess everybody has parent baggage to deal with. On the upside, Mom finally caved and I was able to get back to my drawings and creativity. Funny, later I would have a stint as middle school sports photographer before expanding my interest in music and poems.

It would be a long time before I played baseball again. This time for Chrysalis Records, a music label I was involved with, but in the bleachers this time round to see my one and only Grand Slam would be none other than vocal dynamo Pat Benatar. Hell, even her husband Neil Geraldo was on the team. Now, that’s a home run!

Attached is the link to a prison related song I wrote influenced by the coolest thrift shop chain you can ever find. The stores are called Thrift Town http://www.thrifttown.com and you can find them mostly in the southwest. What I like best about them, not only can you find really neat stuff (antiques, clothes, housewares, guitars, etc) but they also work with worthy causes. So I recommend you visit them and buy something to give yourself a great gift while also put back something into the community.

My song is about the breaking loose of things in life that are holding you back from actually being free. The character in the story is a metaphor for all of us in one way or another seeking to escape the ties that bind us from being the happy people we should be. For a free download of my song Thrift Town recorded by The Nob Hill Billys and produced by Lazy Brad Lewis go here http://davidlear.com/thrifttown.mp3 below are the lyrics:

THRIFT TOWN

Just out of prison and these threads are dead | These Zebra stripes they really wreck your head | I’m going to Thrift Town | Buy myself a brand new pair of shoe | I’m gonna buy a bowling shirt and a second-hand girl | I’m going to Thrift Town

The Warden said “Now, don’t you hesitate, best get a new suit if you’re going straight” | I’m going to Thrift Town | Buy myself a brand new pair of shoe I’m gonna buy a bowling shirt and a second-hand girl | I’m going to Thrift Town

That ball and chain can really wreck your soul | I’m free now baby, but I’m on parole | I’m going to Thrift Town | Buy myself a brand new pair of shoe | I’m gonna buy a bowling shirt and a second-hand girl | I’m going to Thrift Town

For anyone who knows what it feels like to be in the slammer, then you can relate to this song by Johnny Cash. After a couple of stints behind bars for minor issues myself, I can honestly say, locked up is no place you wanna be… not even for a day or two! Attached is a song I recorded that Johnny Cash wrote and performed at the prison of San Quentin and also at Folsom. I do my own rendition on it and I hope it captures some of the angst and urgency of the original. Please click here to hear me Performimg San Quentin by Johnny Cash. I have written a couple prison related songs myself “Thrift Town” & “99 Years”. A currently released prison tune “Thrift Town” by my alt. country band The Nob Hill Billys can found at Spotify.com, Thanks!